Furbearer
Coyote in Illinois, 2026-27 Seasons and Rules
From the Nov 10, 2026 opener to the Feb 15, 2027 close, the rules for coyote in one place.
Photo: ZionNPS (CC BY 2.0)
Coyote hunting by the numbers
Hunters chasing coyote get 2 season lines to work with, from the Nov 10, 2026 opener to the Feb 15, 2027 close. Bag rule in the Digest: no limit.
Coyotes have no closed season and no limit, but hunting stops during the first and second firearm deer seasons in open counties unless the hunter holds an unfilled firearm deer permit and uses a weapon legal for deer. On the public land side, 139 sites name coyote in their IDNR records; 139 have a full page here.
From 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Coyote seasons as the IDNR prints them
Read across: season, area, permit, dates, bag and whether it is open now.
| Hunt | Applies to | Permit or stamp | Season | Daily limit | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Statewide | Trapping |
| No limit | |
| Hunting (guns and bows) | Statewide | License | No closed season | No limit | Open all year |
From 2026-27 Illinois Hunting and Trapping Digest (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Limits and legal gear for coyote
| Digest line | Daily and possession |
|---|---|
| coyote | No limit |
In the species record, IDNR summarizes the legal means for coyote as hunting year round (closed during firearm deer in open counties) or trapping.
From Digest season tables and Digest equipment pages (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Buying list for coyote in Illinois
| Permit | Residency | Digest | Fee table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Hunting | Resident | $12.00 | $12.50 |
| Nonresident Hunting | Nonresident | $57.00 | $57.75 |
| State Habitat Stamp | Either | $5.00 | $5.50 |
| Resident Trapping | Resident | $10.50 | $10.50 |
| Nonresident trapping license | Nonresident | $175.50 | $175.50 |
Expect to pay the fee-table price at a vendor; licenses and state stamps sold from March 1 stay valid through March 31 of the next year.
From Digest license pages (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Illinois field rules for coyote
| Topic | Summary |
|---|---|
| Sale of wildlife | May not buy, sell or offer to sell or barter game birds, migratory game birds or parts (including feathers, nests, eggs and wild turkey parts) or the edible parts of game mammals except under specific permits. |
| Hunting hours | Hunting only during the hours specified for each species relative to official sunrise-sunset times; some IDNR sites are more restrictive. |
| Live wildlife possession | May not release captive wildlife except as authorized, bring in live protected wildlife taken outside Illinois without IDNR permission, or retain wildlife alive except as provided in 17 Ill. Adm. Code 970. |
This is a short list; IDNR sites can be more restrictive than the statewide rules, so check each site before you hunt coyote.
From Digest general rules and Digest hunter orange page (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Public sites that list coyote
The land hub covers 139 sites that name coyote, for instance 45 state fish and wildlife areas, 29 state parks and 15 state natural areas; the eight largest with pages follow.
| Place | Type | County | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crab Orchard | Wildlife refuge | Williamson and Union | 44,415 |
| Jim Edgar Panther Creek | Fish and wildlife area | Cass | 16,400 |
| Cache River | Natural area | Johnson and Pulaski | 15,425 |
| Kaskaskia River | Fish and wildlife area | St. Clair and Randolph | 14,000 |
| Horseshoe Lake | Fish and wildlife area | Alexander | 11,690 |
| Mississippi River Pool 24 | Fish and wildlife area | Pike and Calhoun | 10,211 |
| Carlyle Lake | Fish and wildlife area | Fayette and Clinton | 9,868 |
| Mississippi River Pool 21 | Fish and wildlife area | Adams | 8,536 |
Rules for coyote can differ site by site, so use the page for the area you choose; acreage is as IDNR lists it.
From IDNR site records (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
The coyote hours rule
Hours for coyote: Coyote: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, no time restriction November 10-March 15.
From Digest hours rules (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), checked November 13, 2026.
Coyote hunting kit
Four items that suit an Illinois year, from October bow hunts to January rabbits.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Coyote standing in the openPhoto: U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0)
Snow on the bank of the Ohio River at Locks and Dam 53 near Grand ChainPhoto: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District (CC BY 2.0)
Morning light reflecting on the Ohio River at Paducah, across from Massac CountyPhoto: jjmusgrove (CC BY 2.0)
Coyote FAQ for Illinois hunters
Which days is coyote open in Illinois?
Dates for coyote are hunting (guns and bows) statewide: all year; trapping statewide: November 10, 2026 to February 15, 2027.
Is there a possession limit for coyote?
Under the Digest, No limit.
What paperwork covers coyote hunting?
Illinois asks for a trapping license ($10.50 resident, Digest-listed or fee-table price) or, for hunting, a hunting license and the State Habitat Stamp.
What gear is legal for coyote hunting?
IDNR summarizes legal methods as hunting year round (closed during firearm deer in open counties) or trapping.
What trapping license do I need for coyote?
The fee table lists $10.50 for a resident trapping license, with youth and three-year versions.
Are trapping permits drawn?
Public sites can limit trap types and assign areas; check the site pages before setting anything.
Can I hunt coyote on a Sunday?
We found no statement on Sundays in the Digest or the IDNR pages, so this page says nothing either way.
Is a hunter safety certificate required for coyote?
Yes if you were born on or after January 1, 1980: you must hold a hunter safety certificate, or show an Illinois or out-of-state hunting license from a prior year, before a license can be sold. Apprentice license holders skip the course and hunt with a licensed hunter 21 or older.
Which state sites list coyote?
139 sites name coyote among the allowed game, and the public land pages cover 139 of them with local rules.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District (CC BY 2.0); jjmusgrove (CC BY 2.0).